Massachusetts

Barnstable County (Cape Cod)

Eastham

Placed 6/29/02

By the5coolcats

Trail:Easy

                                      FORT HILL LETTERBOX

 

     Fort Hill is located in the Cape Cod National Seashore and is one of the more beautiful spots in the area.  Look for Fort Hill Rd on the right as you travel RT 6 east in Eastham.  If you reach the Salt Pond Visitors Center you've gone too far.  A short distance up Fort Hill Rd you will find Edward Penniman's 1868 mansion.  Captain Penniman sailed around the world seven times in search of whales and his fortune before retiring here in 1884.  Park in a small lot just beyond the house to the left before walking back to the house to begin your search.

                                      The Fort Hill Letterbox

                                      You will find

                                      If you keep eyes open

                                      And clear the mind.

 

                                      Stand first in the mouth

                                      Of the beast from the sea

                                      Look to the Captain's house

                                      Aye' a clue there shall be!

 

                                      A cupola sits high

                                      Where Penniman would go

                                      The number of windows

                                      You surley must know.

 

                                      Next turn from the house

                                      To the lot you must go

                                      To start up the trail

                                      To the swamp down below.

 

                                      Walk if you will

                                      To a fork in the trail

                                      Take a sinister turn

                                      Choose well lest you fail.

 

                                      At the foot of a hill

                                      A boardwalk you'll meet

                                      Then reach a lone bench

                                      Now count it's feet.

 

                                      Ahead lies a fork

                                      A turn sinister no doubt

                                      By now a clue

                                      You must figure out.

 

                                      Follow this path

                                      To warts on a Y

                                      Then 60 paces more

                                      To take clamshells up high.

 

                                      Bear starboard now mate

                                      Till the benches you spy

                                      Looking out toward the marsh

                                      The sea and the sky.

 

                                      The number of benches

                                      Now that's a clue

                                      Its time to move on

                                      But remember this too.

 

                                      Along up the trail

                                      You might sharpen a spear

                                      No time for that now

                                      Your prize is quite near!

 

                                      In a gazebo you'll stand

                                      The center if you please

                                      Facing due North

                                      Turn to 180 degrees.

 

                                      From the edge of concrete

                                      Your paces will fall

                                      The stride of a man

                                      Roughly six feet tall.

 

                                      Take windows and benches

                                      And add them to feet

                                      26 paces more till

                                      A reward you will meet.

 

                                      Look to the right

                                      A sunny pin you will spy

                                      Search carefully now

                                      The treasure's nearby!

 

                                      The stamp is for bunnies

                                      That live on this hill

                                      Walk quietly at dusk

                                      And see them you will.

 

                                      To finish your walk

                                      Up the trail you should go

                                      To the top of Fort Hill

                                      Its quite beautiful you know.

 

                                      Sit on the bench

                                      Think back on the chase

                                      And how you came here

                                      To this most special place!